Shock absorber



June 27, 1944.

P. W. THORNHILL SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Dec. 1'7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 27, 1,944. P W, THORNHlLL l 2,352,351

SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Dec. 1'7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 27,1944

snoek Ansonnsn Peter Warborn Thornhill, Leamington Spa, England, assignor to John Henry Onions, Coventry,

England Application December 17, 1941, Serial No. 423,380 In Great Britain April 8, 1941 16 Claims. .'(Cl. 267-04) This invention relates to shock absorbers of the type in which liquid is used for damping relative movement of a pair of members. usual1y a cylin-` der, and a plunger telescopically mounted therein, resilient means such as a quantity oi compressed gas and/or one or more springs being provided to sustain the load which is normally carried by the shock absorber due to the weight of the vehicle or equivalent upon which the shock absorber is installed.

It is an object of the invention to provide an extremely simple yet effective form of shock absorber, more especially for motor and like vehicles, said shock absorber being arranged with a view to producing particularly smooth running oi the vehicle.

It is a further object of the invention to provcauses energy to be stored in a resilient medium, which latter, after a predetermined amount of movement has occurred, is capable of supporting the whole load on the shock absorber. In

.other words, the shock absorber comprises springing means as well as means for damping relative movementl of the shock absorber elements.

Some shock absorbers of this form are described vide an improved shock absorber in which smooth running of the vehicle or equivalent is produced by ensuring that the upward force which the shock absorber exerts upon the vehicle is never substantially greater than the normal static load on the shock absorber.

Another object is to provide an improved form of shock absorber in which the controlling means for the usual damping valve device automatically adjusts itseli to suit variations in the static load on the shock absorber.

The invention is illustrated by way of example I in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation oi one construction of vehicle shock-absorbing suspension unit;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary `sectional view showing the damping valve device in one of its open positions;

, form of shock'absorber; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view oi an alternative form of damping valve device. Y

The shock absorbers shown in the drawings are intended primarily for use on motor cars, tanks,

and other land vehicles, but of course the princlples involved can be applied equally well to shock absorbers or struts for use in the .undercarriages, tail wheels and nose wheels of aircraft. In each case the' shock absorber or strut is arranged so that shortening of a pair of telescopic members, as would normally be caused by applying the usual load to the shock absorber,

in myco-pending application Serial No. 372,417, led December 30, 1940, nowPatent No. 2,308,404, issued January 12, 1943.

In each of the arrangements shown in the drawings one of the shock absorber elements comprises a tubular cylinder III, which is closed at its lower end by a plug II and is enlarged in diameter at I2 to accommodate a packing asv sembly, which is indicated generally at I3, this being held in position by a nut or ring Il. 'I'he other element takes the form of a tubular plunger I5, which is slidable in a liquid-tight manner through the packing I3 and has its inner end closed by a piston head I6, the opposite end of .said plunger tube I5 being closed by a cap I1 serving to carry a tubular shield I8 for protect--` ing from dust, dirt and other foreign matter the outer sliding surface of said plunger tube I5. The plug Il and cap I1 are shaped to form xing lugs, which, in Figure 1, are shown partly broken away and are provided with tubular bearing bushes I9 and 20 respectively to engage with transverse pins (not shown) carried by the two parts of the vehicle or equivalent requiring to move relatively, for example the axle mounting vand the chassis, in the case of a motor vehicle.

In the construction shown in Figure 1 the plunger tube I5 is formed at its lower end with a. groove 9|, which is substantially triangular in cross sectionv and is rolled, pressed or' otherwise formed in the tube so as to produce an inwardly directed flange 92 constituting a constriction.

The groove 9| accommodates a piston packing comprising a ring 93 composed oi soft rubber or like material, and also a pair of hard split y rings 94 and 95 which are composed of metal or synthetic resin so as to co-operate with the internal surface of the cylinder tubeA I0 in such a way as to allow a very slight leakage when the shock absorber is operating. In order to permit working liquid to escape from the space 9B between the voverlapping parts of the cylinder and plunger tubes I0 and I5 during extension oi the shock absorber, a non-return valve conveniently comprising a flap 91 composed of spring steel is iltted within the plunger tube I5 and is adapted to cover an aperture 98 therein. During comclosed condition.

pression, on the other hand, when relatively high pressureispresmtinthespacehthepacking rings s4, l prevent the rapid innow of liquid from the space 2i to the space thus avoiding overstraining the main packing i3.

YThedainpingvalve device in this example comprises a circular plate Il whichis of such a diameter that it is able to slide freely through but substantially fill th constriction caused by the "ilange" 2, said plate normally being held in itsclosedpositionbyapairofspidermembeis illl and lli which are urged'into engagement with opposite sides of the e" l2 by conical compression springs il! and ill respectively. The outer ends of these springs bear against collars ill and ill which are carried upon an axial rod |06. This rod is freely slidable through the spiders ill and lli and also through the plate 99, and it carries at its upper end a piston member Il l adapted to slide within an auxiliary cylinder ils formed in one with the plug member i1. The compressed air for providing the necessary resilience is accommodated within a flexible rubber bag Il secured between the auxiliary cylinder i and the axial rod ,III respectively. while the damping liquid is arranged to'. illl the surrounding space within the plunger tube il as indicated. 'Ihe damping liquid is inserted through the usual plug opening in the member ii, andtheairissubsequently pumpedin through a valve of theusual typein the member i'i until the pressure reaches a value -appropriate to the desired range of axial load to be borne by the device. As the drawings are diagrammatic neither the plugged opening in the member ii nor the air valve is shown.

I'he auxiliary cylinder itl is completely closed at its upper part, and as the packing of the piston Iii'i, indicated generally at IUI, is adapted to allow a slight leakage of air, it will be appreci- .atedthatwhentheshockabsorberisinaloaded condition, but is in equilibrium. the air pressure within the bag Il and that within the working space lill of the auxiliary cylinder Il: become equal, the springs il! and ill meanwhile holding the piston il'i in a predetermined normal position with the damping valve device in a The diameter of the piston il'l is arranged to -be substantially equal to that of the plate Il,

so that the plate 88' and the piston ill, taken in conjunction .with the axial rod ill. form a balanced assembly as far as the action of the fluid pressure in the spaces 21, Il is concerned.

In order that the operation of the shock absorber may be clearly understood,` it will be supposed that said shock absorber is operatively interposed between' the chassis of a v vehicle and one of the wheels thereof so as to transmit to said wheel a predetermined gravitational load constituting part of the weight of the vehicle. This load on the shock` absorber will be called W and the corresponding intensity of fluid pressure in the shock absorber necessary to support the load W will be regarded as being P, the actual value of P depending. of course. upon the cross sectional areaof the plunger.

When the vehicle is travelling along a smooth surface the shock absorber is under normal static conditions, the load, as mentionedabove, being W and the internal iluidpressure being P. When the wheel in question strikes and rides over a and thus the upward force exerted upon totheplunger inthmraisingthepremne theliquidintheworklngspacelioftheey 'lheliquidisabletoescapefreelyfromthe ingspacell ofthecylinder il,asthe liftseasllylgalnsttheforceofthesp hicle body during contraction of the sorber is reduced to a minimum.

which enters the working space 2l plunger causes the bag II to raises the compression of the air space. 'lheairinthespaceiil at the normal' static pressure.

packing i" of the auxiliary pistoni Figs? however ses# gel

s s sai 4 s i:

E ris.

' Portedbytheupwardthrustontheauidllaryiiston ill and therefore does not allow damping liquid to escape from the space 21 in the pilmger tube it. When. however, the pressure in th'e space 2i drops below that in the auxiliary cylinder space ill, i. e. to a value of about P. the device comprising the parts ill, III, ill. III and Il (which is balanced as far as the prasure in the spaces 21 and il is concerned) can move bodily downwards under the effect of the pressure in the space ill. thus permitting liquid to re-enter the cylinder space 2|, the supply being automatically cut oil. however. if the pres- 4g sure tends to rise above P. 'I'his action proceeds 60 into a depression in the road surface. The presbump, the chassis of the vehicle tends to follow .7,

its original level course, with the result that the sure liquid from the working space 21 is able to enter the cylinder working space 2i quite freely during the extension of the shock absorber, the plate l! moving downwards against the spring ill. As the pressure in the plunger tube il falls, the piston iil'i is forced downwards by the air trapped within the auxiliar-y cylinder space iiD: thus the plate 89 is held down and prevents the liquid from being forced out of the working space 2i until it regainsa pressure P suiiicient to support the static load on the shock absorber.

During operation of the shock absorber each single reciprccation takes place in a fraction of a second, and therefore theamount of air in the space ill cannot change appreciably. When, however. the static load is changed (for instance by the loading or unloading of the vehicle, or by cylinder itof the shock absorber rises relative 76 part an annular rubber cushion member iii to limit the extending movement Aof the shock absorber, while an'upper cushion member I|2 is arranged to form a buffer when the shock absorber reaches its fully shortened state.

The attachment bushes I9 and 29 carried by the plug members and I1 respectively are arranged to have a universal movement within limits so as to avoid straining the shock absorber tubes, and the housings for these bushes arepreferably constructed in the manner shown more particularly in Figures 3 and 4. It will be seen, for example, that the bush I9 (Figure 3) has a part-spherical outer surface Illwhich ilts'rotatably within a correspondingly shaped socket ring ||4 forming part of the plug member II`. This socket ring Il( is formed initially as a substantially parallel tube lila, as seen in Figure 4, and within this is positioned a former member I|9 which is composed of hard material and which has a similar outer shape to the bearing bush I9. The upper and lower parts' of the tubular portion Ila are then bent downwardly, as indicated vin'broken lines at Illb, and as will also be seen in Figure 1. Lateral displacement of the former member ||9 is thus prevented, but as the pressing is conned to the upper and lower parts of the tube Illa, the former member |I9 can be removed by twisting it through a right angle. as viewed in Figure 4, and then sliding it laterally. The appropriate bearing bush I9 can then be inserted by reversing these movements.

If desired, instead of utilising the compressed air as the working medium for the auxiliary piston |91 the 'shock absorber may be arranged so that the auxiliaryA pistonis acted upon by the damping liquid, and such a construction is illustrated in Figure 5. It will be seen that the auxiliary cylinder |99 is iitted slidably with an auxiliary piston |91 having a packing |99 adapted as before to have an appreciable but relatively g pressing the spring ||9. During the succeeding.

rebound stroke the lower spider |9| serves to hold the plate 99 in its closed position until such time as the pressure' of the-liquid in the cylinder I9 falls below its normal static value. As the diameter of the auxiliary piston |91 is substantially equal to that oi the plate 99 the parts |91, |99, 949, |9|` and |95 are in a state of balance with respect to the fluid pressure in the plunger tubev I9, so that as soon as the liquid pressure in the cylinder i9 falls below the normal static value the spring |I9 is able to lower the rod |99, the plate 99 then being deslow leakage. This piston is connected by an axial rod I96to a damping valve device comprising a plate 99 disposed between a pair of spider members |99 and |9|, as in the preceding example. 'I'he axial rod |99, however, is surrounded by a tube I I9, which extends downwardly from the lower part of the auxiliary cylinder |99 to a 'position well below the normal level of the damping liquid. This liquid completely illls fthe tube ||9 and that part of the auxiliary cylinder |99 disposed below a iloating piston ||1, which has a liquid-tight packing I I9 and is urged downwards by a coiled compression spring I|9 producing a force on the floating piston ||1 equal to the upward force produced by the workingiiuid when the s hoclrl absorber is bearing its normal static load. The auxiliary piston |91 is normally held by the springs |92 and |93 'at a position about the middle oi' its normal stroke, the liquid pressures above and below the ,auxiliary piston |91 being substantiallyequalised on account of the leakage permitted by the packing |99. The diameter of the auxiliary piston |91 is, of course, equal to that of the oating piston |I1 and is also the same as that of the plate 9.9. Thus when ythe shock absorber is shortened, as, for example-when the wheel to which it is connected strikes a bump in the road surface, this movement is unobstructed by the damping liquid, for the plate 99 is able to move freely in an upward direction, as shown in Figure 2. Durpressible by the liquid in the plunger tube, which liquid then ilows into the cylinder tube Il so as to maintain the pressure therein at a value substantially equall to the normal static value. In this way the gravitational load on the shock absorber is at all times adequately supported without the upward force being suilicient in magnitude to impart any substantial upward movement to the vehicle bcxly or equivalent.

It will be seen that although the constructional features of the shock absorber shown in Figure 5- are somewhat the same as those of the device in Figure l, the plunger tube I5 is enlarged at its upper end, as indicated at |29. This gives an increased space within the plunger tube for the accommodation of compressed air and at the same time forms a convenient attachment for the tubular shield i9.

The modified form of damping valve device shown in Figure 6 is intended to be a substitute for that in Figures l and 2. The axial rod |99 has its movement positively limited by collars |24 and |29 co-operating with a stop member |29 carried by the plunger tube i5. The valve member itself comprises a cylindrical block |21 which is freely slidable upon the axial rod |99 between ,the collar |25 and a collar |29 upon the lower extremity of the rod, the `free movement of the block |21 upon the rod |99 being substantially the same as the free movement of said rod |99 relative to the stop member` |29. Notches or grooves are formed around the upper and lower edges of the block |21, as indicated at |29, but an uncut portion |99 is left around the middle of the block |21 so that when the latter is in the position shown in the drawing the constriction at the lower end of thek plunger tube I9 is substantially completely closed. It will be seen that the block |21 is caused to assume this positionwheneverthe rod |99 is fully raised or respective strokes.

It will be appreciated that the constructions described are given. merely as examples of theinvention and that various modifications are possible. For instance, where a rubber bag or sac is used to separate the compressed air or other gas from the damping liquid the air may be accommodated between said rubber bag or sac and the plimger mbe, the interior of said beg or sac being connected with the working space 2| of the cylinder by way of the damping valve device. Further, the constructional details of the damping valve itself may be modiiied. The improved shock absorben may be adapted to operate with either end uppermost, and oi course any convenient means may be used for charging the shock absorber with damping liquid and compressed air or other gas.

What I claim is:

1. -A telescopic shock absorbing suspension unit comprising a cylinder element, a hollow plunger element sliding therein, a damping valve device at the inner end ot the plunger element, damping liquid within the cylinder element and'extending through the damping valve device to occupy part of the working space within the plunger element, compressed gas disposed within the space in the plunger element to support resiliently the axial load on the shock absorber. an auxiliary piston which is subject to the action oi' a connned quantity of compressed gas at a pressure determined by the static axial load on the shock absorber,

and an axial rod connecting the auxiliary piston with the said damping valve device at the inner end of the plunger element so as to urge said valve device in either direction from its position of equilibrium as the -fiuid pressure in the plunger element becomes greater and less than its static value.A

2. A telescopic shock absorbing suspension unit comprising a cylinder element, a hollow plunger element sliding therein, a damping valve device at the inner end of the plunger element, damping liquid within the cylinder element and extending through the damping valve device into the plunger element. compressed gas within the plunger element and controlling means which are responsive to changes in the uid pressure in the plunger element and which are connected with the damping valve device to modify the action thereof, said damping .valve device comprising a constriction in the plunger element, a rod extending axially therethrough, a valve member slldable through the constriction so as to block the latter when in its normal intermediate position, and means carried by the axial rod for preventing the valve member from moving past this intermediate position when the pressure in the plunger element changes substantially from its static value. l 3.4In a telescopic shock absorbing suspension unit ot the character described, a plunger element comprising a tubular member formed at one end with a circumferential indentation, said indentation deilning on the outside of the member a groove, and upon the interior of the member a constricting ange, packing means disposed within the groove. and a damping valve device co-operating with the flange to control .the ilow of damping liquid into and out of the plunger element.

4. A telescopic shock absorbing suspension unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the groove in the plunger element is substantially triangular in radial cross section.

5. In a telescopic shock absorbing suspension unit oi' the character described, a damping valve device comprising a constriction, a valve member,

spring means urging said member to occupy normally a position in register with the constriction so as to block said constriction, controlling means actuated by the pressure fluid in the shock absorber, and a pair of stops operatively connected with the controlling means so that said controlling means brings one or other of the stops into action, depending upon whether the shock absorber is extended or shortened by :zomparison with its normal statically loaded ength,`

A shock absorbing claimed in claim 5, wherein device comprises a valve plate which substantially closes a constriction in the pllmger tube. arod extendingthroughtheplate,apair of which projections presses the spider against the wall of the constriction thus prevents the valve plate from opening in thatdi-rectionundertheeilectoftheprsurs iluid. 'LA .shock absorbing suspension unit as claimeaincmm 5, whemintnedampingynve the eiect of the pressure iluid.

8. A shock absorbing suspension unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the valve member comprises a block which has limited sliding play upon a rod connected with the controlling meam and which is normally free to move in either direction out oi' the constriction, in response to unbalanced iluid pressure, the rod being movable axiailyunder the Aaction oi' the controlling balanced iluid pressure, the rod being movable axially under the action .of the continuing means so as to cause the valve member to have a oneway action. except when the shock absorber is in equilibrium bearing its normal static load. and the block being cut away at its end parts to per.-

- mit the passage oi tluid through the constriction.

l0. A shock absorbing suspension unit 'as claimed in claim 5, wherein the valve member comprises a block which has limited sliding play upon a rod connected with the controlling means and which is normally free to move in either direction out of the constriction, in response to unbalanced uid pressure, the rod being movable axially under the action of the controlling means so as to cause the valve rmember to have a oneway action, except when the shock absorber is in equilibrium bearing its' normal static load, and the rod having its axial movement limited to a distance substantially equal to the sliding Dlt! ot the block relative to said rod.

11. In a telescopic lshock absorbing suspension unit of the character described having a chamber containing liquid, a damping valve device and controlling means therefor comprising an auxiliary cylinder containing a fluid-tight iioating piston, the space below said piston being illled with liquid in tree communication with that in the chamber, a compression spring within the upper part of the auxiliary cylinder so as to act downassaasi wards upon the floating piston, and a controlling piston which is disposed within the liquid in the auxiliary cylinder ,and has packing means adapted to allow slow leakage of liquid from one side to the other, said controlling piston being connected with the damping valve device by an axial rod.

unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controlling means 'comprise an auxiliary cylinder containing a duid-tight iloating piston, the space below saidplston being-illled with liquid in free communication with that in the chamber, a compression spring within the upper part oi' the auxiliary cylinder so as to' act downwards upon the noating piston, and a controlling piston which is disposedfwithin the liquid in the auxiliary cylinder and has packing means adapted to allow slow leakage of liquid from one side to the other, said controlling piston being connected with the damping` valve device by an axial rod.

13. In 'a telescopic shock absorbing suspension unit ofuthe character described, a cylinder tube, a plunger tube slidable. therein, and a damping valve device at the inner end of said plunger tube, a peripheral groove being formed in the plunger tube to provide within said plunger tube, an inwardly directed circumerential protuberance with which the damping valve device co-operates, said circumferential protuberance comprising a l2. A telescopic shock absorbing suspension restriction arranged mp-,-receive 'said damping valve device and out oi' which said damping valve device can move longitudinally in either direction.

14. In a telescopic shock absorbing suspension unit oi' the character described, a cylinder tube, a plunger tube slidable therein. and a damping valve device at the inner end of said plunger tube. the plunger tube being of substantially uniform thickness throughout its length and having adiacent. but spaced from, its inner end a portion of reduced diameter producing an external groove and an inwardly directed circumferential protuberance with which latter the damping valve device co-operates.

15. A telescopic shock absorbing suspension unit as claimed in claim 14 having a packing ring which is disposed within the external groove in the plunger tube, and which slidably engages' with the cylinder.

16. A telescopic shock absorbing suspension unit as set out in claim 13. including yieidable PETER WARBORN THORNHIIL. 

